ABERDEEN, S.D. – On April 15, Northern State University student-athletes will team up with the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota in service to the Aberdeen community and region.
Saturday is the 21st annual Day of Champions, and the Wolves will spend the day volunteering at various community organizations, performing tasks from cleaning to painting to yard cleanup.
The Day of Champions started in 2002 as a collaborative effort between the NSU Athletic Department and the United Way. Since then, over 2,950 Northern student-athletes have worked on more than 250 projects with 20,500 hours of labor—which equates to $227,000 worth of donated labor.
“Northern is proud to partner with the United Way to give back to a community that supports us like no other,” said NSU President Neal Schnoor. “And we are especially proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for extending a helping hand to our many great community organizations and projects.”
This year, the Wolves will volunteer at 18 locations around the area: Aberdeen Community Theatre, Aberdeen Area Senior Center, Aberdeen Family YMCA and Youth Development Center, Avera St. Luke’s, Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen, Dacotah Prairie Museum, Aberdeen Downtown Association, Journey Daycare and Church, Lee Park Golf Course, New Beginnings Center, Roncalli High School, Safe Harbor, Salvation Army, Sanford Health, United Way and HAPI, and the Westport community.
“We’re excited for Day of Champions as we get a chance to give back to the Aberdeen and surrounding communities,” said NSU Director of Athletics Nate Davis. “Our student-athletes have been engaged in Day of Champions for more than 20 years and it is a tremendous opportunity for the Wolves to make an impact in our community outside of competition. We have a great partnership with the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota and appreciate their efforts and support to help facilitate the day. Aberdeen has been so good to Northern State over time, and we love the opportunity to pay some of that back each year with Day of Champions.”
The Day of Champions is sponsored by NSU Athletics, United Way of Northeastern South Dakota, Eide Bailly, Target Stores, Twist Cone, Jimmy Johns, QQP, 3M, Dacotah Bank, Aberdeen Sertoma Club and QQP.
“Part of United Way’s mission is to improve our region by mobilizing the caring power of communities,” said United Way Executive Director Aaron Schultz. “The NSU Day of Champions is a perfect example of the United Way mission in action. Thank you to the NSU students, coaches, and administration that makes this happen each year.”
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.